A former flight attendant with 14 years of experience has warned passengers about the risks of certain sleeping positions on long-haul flights. Barbara Bacilieri, who worked as cabin crew, shared a list of do's and don'ts for travellers hoping to get some sleep in the air, highlighting that some popular positions could be uncomfortable, unhygienic and even dangerous.
Bacilieri advised against sleeping on the floor, noting that the carpet is very dirty and passengers must wear their seatbelt. She also warned against sitting backwards on the seat while trying to sleep, and urged travellers to think twice before reclining their seats if the person behind is eating, as it could send food and drinks flying because the tray table is attached to the seat in front.
The former flight attendant also cautioned against sleeping with your head hanging into the aisle, as flight attendants could accidentally bump into you when passing with the cart. She advised against sleeping sprawled across armrests or with your head resting directly on the tray table, citing dirty surfaces and inconvenience to fellow travellers. Above all, she said, do not sleep two to a bed in the same seat.
Bacilieri also shared other etiquette tips, such as not leaving used tissues in the seat pocket, as it is difficult to clean. She recommended placing liquids in protective silicone pouches to prevent spills in hand luggage, and urged parents to avoid changing nappies on tray tables. For food, she suggested bringing snacks like crisps, chocolate, tuna, and a hamburger in case meal services are interrupted by turbulence.
To beat boredom, she recommended downloading films and TV programmes before travelling in case onboard entertainment is unavailable. In another viral video, she revealed surprising rules for cabin crew, including a ban on kissing, public displays of affection, smoking, chewing gum for recent quitters, drinking coffee at the boarding gate, and alcohol.
